Hard work is the secret of his success.
His latest crown will climax six years of helping transform cycling's showcase race, bringing American brashness, determination and know-how to an event that is almost as much a part of French lore as wine, the Eiffel Tower, or the baguette.
His focus, attention to detail, use of go-fast technologies to save seconds and his ability to recruit, keep and motivate teammates devoted to his cause, have raised the bar for how to win the three-week cycling marathon.
``It's an improvement in the method of approaching the Tour de France -- more professional, more rigorous, more methodical,'' Leblanc said. ``In a word, more American.''
But even with six crowns, debate will rage on whether Armstrong is a cut above the four five-time champions he will eclipse.
Belgian Eddy Merckx, for example, holds the Tour record of stage wins, 34, compared to 21 for Armstrong.
And Merckx and Frenchman Bernard Hinault collected more yellow jerseys as race leader. Merckx won 96, Hinault 78. Armstrong will earn his 66th jersey Sunday.
Armstrong's fans are inspired by his defeat of testicular cancer, diagnosed in 1996, and his emphatic wins. But detractors claim that his almost military approach has drained the Tour of romance and suspense. Some suspect his domination must be due to drugs, shouting ``Doped!'' as he passes.
Armstrong insists he has never taken performance-enhancers and said he was bemused by ``people that stand there and boo.''
``What kind of a champion do they want?'' he asked. ``Regardless, for me it's comforting to know that all the past champions were not the favorites -- especially in a country where sometimes they like the person who gets second a lot better than the person that gets first.
``But if that's the risk -- to be loved you have to get second -- I'll take a few boos and hisses,'' he added.
Reuters |
